Nature Conservancy: Nature Works Everywhere Garden Grants

Deadline: October 31, 2016

The Nature Works Everywhere program gives grants to schools across the U.S. to build, amend, or revitalize school garden projects with the core principal that gardens model nature on a relatable scale. The idea is that by combining project-based learning curriculum with a school garden space, students learn conservation-mindedness. In 2016, the focus of the program has been expanded to include all kinds of projects that involve students in developing a nature-based, green infrastructure solution to an environmental challenge in the community. Whether addressing issues surrounding access to healthy food, air quality, heat island effect, climate change or storm water collection, youth will be empowered as social innovators to model solutions in their school communities through project design and implementation. To accomplish this, the Nature Works Everywhere grant will support projects that implement green infrastructure to address local environmental challenges.

Examples of the types of projects that will be awarded funding include:

Rain gardens and other nature-based solutions for urban stormwater management, including but not limited to bioswales, vegetative buffers, and constructed/restored wetlands. For more information on bioswales, read this handout by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Amount: Grants of $2,000 each will be awarded to 55 schools (at least five grants will be awarded for rain garden projects in the Puget Sound region of Washington State).

Eligibility: Schools and projects must meet the following requirements:

School must be public or charter.

School must be located within an urban area.

Preference will be given to Title 1 schools.

Schools can be elementary, middle, or high schools.

Projects do not have to be located on school grounds, but should involve students in design and/or implementation. A project may already be in progress, or funds can be used to start a new project. If projects are garden-focused, funding can be used to launch new gardens, for enhancements to existing gardens, or for revitalization of garden spaces on school campuses or garden spaces serving students.

Projects must incorporate student learning.

A non-profit 501(c)(3) organization can apply on the behalf of a school and serve as the fiscal agent if awarded funds.

Students must be involved.

Preference is given to projects with an emphasis on building urban green infrastructure; however, food gardens will also be funded if they address a challenge around access to healthy food.